Jerash is known for the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa, also referred to as Antioch on the Golden River.

Jerash became an urban center during the 3rd century BC .

a member of the federation of Greek cities the Decapolis (“ten cities” in Greek).

Jerash prospered during the 1st century BC as a result of position on the incense and spice trade route from the Arabian Peninsula to Syria and the Mediterranean region.

The city began to decline in the 3rd century, later becoming a Christian city under the rule of the Byzantine empire.

Bronze Age

Evidence of settlements dating to the Bronze Age (3200 BC – 1200 BC) have been found in the region.

Hellenistic period

Jerash is the site of the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa.

Ancient Greek inscriptions from the city as well as literary sources from both Iamblichus and the Etymologicum Magnum support that the city was founded by Alexander the Great or his general Perdiccas, who settled aged Macedonian soldiers there. This took place during the spring of 331 BC, when Alexander left Egypt, crossed Syria and then went to Mesopotamia .

Roman period

After the Roman conquest in 63 BC, Jerash and the land surrounding annexed to the Roman province of Syria, and later joined the Decapolis league of cities. In AD 90, Jerash absorbed into the Roman province of Arabia, which included the city of Philadelphia (modern day Amman).

The Romans ensured security and peace in this area, which enabled people to devote their efforts to economic development .

Jerash sometimes misleadingly referred to as the “Pompeii of the Middle East” or of Asia, referring to its size, extent of excavation and level of preservation, since Jerash never destroyed and buried by a single cataclysmic event, such as a volcanic eruption. Jerash is considered one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities in the Near East.

Byzantine period

The city finally reached a size of about 800,000 square meters within its walls.The Persian invasion in AD 614 caused the rapid decline of Jerash.

Early Muslim period

Despite decline, the city continued to flourish during the Umayyad period, as shown by recent excavations. In AD 749, a major earthquake destroyed much of Jerash and surroundings.